Do what you love...

Quick share of an Art Journal page today.

Whenever I am working on projects I always keep

some inexpensive newsprint down on my desk. I use it to clean stencils,

and stamps before they are put away.

Because I can 't ever throw anything away I have stacks and stacks of printed,

colored, patterned paper.

I turned one piece into a page in my art journal this morning.

Had to work quick, we got 1/2" of snow overnight and the little one was dying to go out

(hey in our neck of the woods EVERYTHING shuts down for a quarter inch of snow)

The background as I said is from my scraps paper.

I used a Hampton Arts stamp and stamped the flowers across

the page.

I then went over the stamped lines with a black sharpie to really make them noticeable.

The insides of the flowers were quickly colored with another Sharpie and then 

a little squiggle on each petal with a white gel pen.

Finished up with some tiny letter stickers just writing out…

Do what you love.

And making art is something I most definitely love.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

I saw this!

Another layout from this past weekend's cyber crop at

Flying Unicorn.

The challenge for this one was to scrap where you wanted to be,

preferably someplace warm,

and use bright colors.

I used this picture from our 2012 trip to Italy.

Man oh man was it warm there and currently

I am desperately wishing for it to be even half as warm here.

The photo is of Ponte Vecchio in Florence.

The patterned papers are from The Scrap Cake.

Silk's Acrylic Glaze was painted through a Crafter's Workshop stencil

then circled with white chalk.

Ranger paint was dabbed through sequin waste.

Stamping with a Kaisercraft stamp and Archival ink.

Dylusions mist was sprayed and dripped.

Liquitex Acrylic ink was splattered across the page.

Tape, ribbon and a clear die cut were layered under the photo.

Thanks for stopping by and have great day!

Original

I know I know…

I used this pic last week as well, BUT it was perfect for this layout and now oldest gets a copy and I get a copy.

WIN WIN.

This past weekend there was an online crop at Flying Unicorn.

In one of the challenges Shona provided a sketch for us to use.

I wound up loving the sketch and this is what I came up with

All paper is from 7 Dots Studio.

There were found papers, tissue paper and masking tape adhered

to it then covered with Gesso.

Lindy's Stamp Gang Moon Shadow mist was then misted heavily and blown around the page.

There is also some Silk's Acrylic Glaze applied in spots.

The flowers and wood pieces are from Prima.

Chipboard from Blue Fern (I think) was colored with chalk ink

and then highlighted in spots with more Silks.

There is stamping on the background with  Kaisercraft and Club Scrap stamps.

You can see the tape and tissue paper here.

Some more of the blown mist.

Thanks for stopping by  and have a great day.

A few ATCs for the day

Every once in a while I get into an ATC mood.

If you are wondering what exactly are ATCs well…

Artist Trading Cards.

They measure 2.5 x 3.5 inches and can be done either horizontally or vertically,

though you see I definitely prefer one direction over the other.

You can do them up and keep for yourself or trade with

Artists all over the world.

I am lucky to have albums filled art from around the globe

acquired all by trading.

The background on this one is created with Gel Medium, paper towels and Perfect Pearls.

The cage is from Kaisercraft painted with Silks and the bird is Prima

covered with a piece of scrap patterned paper.

Balance is created on a background using a magazine page, Elmers glue,

Nvr-Dul and Colorbox ink.

Circles stamped with StazOn and a doily edge added in spots.

2 small lace doilies create my flowers.

The stems are actually from the tree outside my craft room.

Hexagons were cut and inked before being glued to my background.

Next time you are looking to try something new…

how about an ATC.

The size is perfect to try new things, use up scraps

and create art quick.

Who knows…

you may get hooked.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Tag Day

Just sharing a quick mixed media tag I did up today.

It's been so cold here in NC that I'm not much in the

mood for creating.

I'm so longing for sunny warm days.

Sharing a couple closeups as well.

Gold embossing powder, Petaloo butterflies and flowers.

Some recycled painted paper towels from my desk.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

STAY WARM!

Feeling a little green today...

I've been up since 2am which means by now

I have been awake for a full 11 hours.

Now while it stinks on the sleep front

 (and man oh man and I am dragging)

on the creating front I had this layout done before anyone else was even up.

The patterned paper comes from Melissa Frances.

Some Gesso was swiped across with an old credit card, and then 

Silk's Acrylic Glaze in Olive Vine was rubbed on 

in spots with my finger.

There was Washii tape, stamping and some misting using

Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Chartreuse.

The mist coordinated perfectly with my Silks

(love it when that happens).

There is some lace layered under the photo and the flowers

come from Petaloo.

My collection of Hydrangeas is slowly wilting away..boohoo!

Think I'm going to go find some caffeine now.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Valentine's Day is coming and I have some great classes to help you get ready….

Just wanted to share about 2  classes I have  up for sale over at The Art Studio

...perfect for Valentine's day or anytime you need something

for that someone special.

The first is a one day class where we will make 3 different mixed media Valentine cards. Each one is chock full of techniques and yumminess. Anyone would feel special receiving one of these hand made cards.

The class is $12.99 and has full video step by step as well as PDF downloads.

The following are some sneaks from the class...

Next up is a mixed media wall hanging perfect for Valentine's day or any day.

In this one day class we will create an 8x10 wall hanging with a large heart as a focal point.

I'll take you step by step in it's creation, always available to answer any questions that may come up.

The following are some sneaks from the finished project  (I have to say I was so happy with how this turned out I can't stop looking at it).

It retails for $12.99

and has full video and step by step downloadable PDFs for you 

to follow along with.

This is perfect to give to that special artsy friend for the 14th or keep for yourself hanging in your room.

Here are a few sneaks.

                                                Both classes are currently for sale over at
                                                               The Art Studio.
                           Head on over and check them out….Valentine's Day is almost here!
                   

 

                                         Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

The Documented Life week 4 A SECRET MESSAGE

It's time for my page for week 4 of 

The Documented Life.

This time the challenge was to write a secret message,

pick one word and isolate it while painting over the rest.

Sharpie in hand I sat down and wrote away.

I have to say there is something almost freeing when writing

with the knowledge you will be covering it up.

I was nowhere near as critical of my handwriting for this one.

anyhoo...

My word I isolated is BRAVE.

Now in my message this means a lot.

Even not in my message…

well you get the idea.

I also used a tip in that folds out x2 this time.

I love how tip ins look but rarely use them in my work.

They add even more bulk to which sometimes I'm ehhh on.

My message was covered with several colors of 

Golden Fluid Acrylics.

The circles are made with NeoColor II crayons and outlined

with my Sharpie.

Some stamping using Archival ink

The SHHHHH stamp is from Club Scrap (how perfect for a secret message page).

Some watered down acrylic paint was also sprayed through

several letter stencils.

The heart is a piece of scrap paper left over from an 

earlier project.

I stitched a around the inside edge and left all the threads hanging down.

More Washii tape was add in complimentary colors and I journaled

some more on top of my message.

Brave :)

Some old lace was stitched on to my tip in as well.

Lots of dangly threads and lace loops to pull out the tip in with.

My book edges are starting to look interesting.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day.

You make me smile

We are having a cyber crop for the month of January over at

PaperArtistsOnline.

One of the challenges was to take a sketch from either

Dec or Jan Pagemaps and use it in a creation.

I picked this sketch from Dec 2013

And this is how I interpreted it.

I used the October kit from Swirlydoos for most of my supplies

All patterned paper and Die Cuts come from the

BoBunny The Avenues collection

I added some Washii tape and staples

As well as some twine I found on the floor in my closet

(hey it was begging to be used)

I also rubbed some Branch Bark ink by Prima through

a Crafter's Workshop stencil onto the background for a bit

more pattern.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Longing for Spring

Sharing another Art Journal page today.

This one, again started as scrap paper that was used to clean 

stencils from mists and pints.

I added a bird and nest as my focal,

mainly because for me they are big signs of Spring,

and I am So longing for Spring.

I'm ready to kick Winter to the curb.

There is Washii tape and more stamping added

on top.

Rub ons were once again pulled from the stash 

and added in spots.

There was also a clear transparency added down the

right hand side.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Create every day and CREATE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN

I try to create every day.

Now mind you some of those creations don't get finished, 

some sit by the wayside until one day AH HA

and some, well yes some are recycled for future use

(a layer of Gesso can do wonders)

Any way this Art Journal page came about from leftovers

of an earlier project.

The base is a piece of watercolor paper that I used to clean off stencils 

while I was working on my

Creating an Art Journal Page: Leave Your Mark class.

It sat and sat until today.

I started to clean my desk 

(which looked like several natural disasters rolled into one)

and stumbled upon it.

Had to stop cleaning and start creating PRONTO.

The paper still had write spaces;  which I needed to fill.

First some more misting with various mists and stencils.

And when I say various:

Lindy's Stamp Gang

Tattered Angels

Dylusions

Heidi Swapp…

when it comes to mist I am an equal opportunity mister lol

The numbers were also hanging on my desk. 

I colored with NeoColor IIs and stapled to the page.

More stamping with Prima, Hampton Arts,

 and Club Scrap stamps.

Gesso rubbed through a large piece of sequin waste.

Dried and then outlined with a charcoal pencil.

Washii tape and some very old white Rub Ons

by Hampton arts were added.

I add some journaling on an old card and then added

CREATE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

which is I think my new personal motto.

(I'm so much easier to be around after I create a little)

In the end this is a page that just kind of flowed, when I started I had no idea where it was going 

but I am sure happy where it ended up.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!